ODRA The country of Orissa A man of that country.

OM A word of solemn invocation, affirmation, benediction, and consent, so sacred that when it is uttered no one must hear it. The word is used at the commencement of prayers and religious ceremonies, and is generally placed at the beginning of books. It is a compound of the three letters a, u, m, which are typical of the three Vedas; and it is declared in the Upanishads, where it first appears, to have a mystic power and to be worthy of the deepest meditation. In later times the monosyllable re- presents the Hindu triad or union of the three gods, a being Vishnu, u Siva, and m Brahma. This monosyllable is called Udgitha.

OMKARA The sacred monosyllable Om. Name of one of the twelve great lingas. See Lings.

OSHADHI-PRASTHA 'The place of medicinal herbs.' A city in the Himalaya mentioned in the Kumara-Sambhava.  

OSHTHA-KARNAKAS A people whose lips extended to their ears, mentioned in the Maha-bharata.